Adjustable tailpiece for stringed musical instruments



G. R. MILLER July 9, 1940.

ADJUSTABLE TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 16, 1939 Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS George R. Miller, Kalamazoo, Mich.,'assignor to Gibson, Ina, Kalamazoo, Mich. 1

Application June 16, 1939, Serial No. 279,383

Claims.

The main objects of my invention are: First, to provide a stringed musical instrument having a novel string anchoring tailpiece.

Second, to provide an instrument of the type described in which the tailpiece is adjustable to simultaneously and uniformly vary the tension exerted by the strings on the bridge of the instrument.

Third, to provide an adjustable tailpiece of novel construction for stringed musical instruments.

Fourth, to provide a stringed instrument having provision for regulating the tone quality to suit the individual user, or for the particular requirements or conditions, and also the individual users requirements as to string tension apart from individual key adjustment.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a stringed instrument equipped with the adjustable tailpiece in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the relation of tailpiece construction of my invention to the instrument.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, illustrating details of the adjustable tailpiece construction.

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view still further illustrating details of the novel construction of my invention.

I have found that the tension of the strings exerted on the bridge of a stringed instrument such as a mandolin, guitar and the like has a very definite effect on the tone quality of the instrument; that is, an excessive tension on the bridge causes the instrument to have a dull, sluggish tonal response, whereas insuflicient tension on the bridge will result in a harsh, piercing tone. Of the two, the latter, in so far as it makes possible a relatively brilliant rendition, is to be preferred, however the individual likes or desires of the player will govern in this respect. There are also .various conditions and adaptations to surroundings which render tension control apart from key adjustment very desirable. Since it is apparent that a number of instruments made up of difierent woods will necessarily differ in the harshness or dullness of their tones, my invention makes it possible by varying the pressure onthe bridgeto produce any desired tone or tones; accordingly the value of my invention in reducing or eliminating the usual difliculty of selecting an instrument well suited to the taste or touch of the individual user will be appreciated.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates a fretted stringed musical instrument such as a guitar, mandolin and the like having vibrating strings 2 whose individual tension is adjustable at 2| in well known manner and 10 which are disposed over a bridge 3 of conventional type. These strings are anchored to a tailpiece which is indicated by the reference numeral 4 and which is illustrated in particularity in Figs. 1, 3,

and 4, consisting of a relatively stiff, though somewhat flexible, sheet metal element appropriately decorated at 5 if desired and having a forwardly projecting reinforced end 6 provided with the usual string receiving slots 1. The member 5 has a rearwardly disposed downwardly offset integral anchoring or securing element 8 adapted to receive suitable fasteners by which it is secured to the body 9 of the instrument.

In accordance with my invention, the element 8 has rigidly secured thereto as by spot welding at p H) or otherwise a forwardly disposed thrust member I I provided with a rounded thrust nose 12 engageable with a wear or abutment piece l3 preferably of a relatively hard material such as ebony or Bakelite, which is inserted in the top panel i l of the instrument body or sounding box. Interiorly of the instrument I dispose a block or thrust sustaining member l5 preferably of wood to sustain the downward thrust exerted on the abutment l5 also serves to receive the screws l6 by which the member 8 of the tailpiece is preferably connected to the instrument.

The thrust member II is threaded to receive an adjustable Allen type screw I! which is engaged at its top by a reinforcing and wear element l8 secured as by welding at I9 to the inner side of tailpiece member 4. The Allen screw is a conventional externally threaded screw element having a central non-circular recess into which a non-circular wrench 20, usually L shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, is inserted to turn the screw. Rotation of the screw l 1 causes the tailpiece to be raised as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 or lowered to thereby increase or decrease the force exerted by the strings on the bridge 3. This manipulation is accomplished with the aid of a suit able hexagonal screw adjusting wrench 20.

By the aforesaid adjustable tailpiece, it is possible to vary the pressure exerted on the, bridge l3 by the thrust member I I. The block 3 to any desired degree to meet individual requirements, the brilliance of the tone of the instrument being altered accordingly. Upward adjustment of the tailpiece of course decreases the tension of the string. The accompanying reduction of the pressure on the bridge increases the pressure on the top of the instrument. By the aforesaid adjustments, the tone quality may be varied and the string action regulated or adjusted as a unit. Notwithstanding these advantages, the manipulation for securing them is exceedingly simple and may be performed by the user with little expenditure of time or effort.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument having a body and a bridge therein over which the strings are disposed, a tailpiece comprising a sheet metal member having a string anchoring portion and an integral downwardly offset attaching portion fixedly secured to the body of the instrument, and means for adjusting said tailpiece vertically comprising a thrust member secured to said downwardly offset portion and having an abutment member engaging the body of the instrument, and a threaded actuating member threadedly engaging said thrust member and in thrust engagement with said tailpiece member whereby rotational adjustment of said threaded member varies the position of the tailpiece relative to the body of the instrument and the force exerted by the strings on the bridge. a

2. In a stringed musical instrument having a body and a bridge thereon over which the strings are disposed, a tailpiece comprising a sheetmetal member having astring anchoring portion and an integral downwardly ofiset attaching portion fixedly secured tothe body of "the instrument, and means for adjusting said tailpiece vertically comprising a thrust member secured to said member and having an abutment member engaging the body of. the instrument, and a threaded actuating member engaging said thrust member and said tailpiece member whereby rotational adjustment of said threaded member varies the position of the tailpiece relative to the body of the instrument and the force exerted by the strings on the bridge.

3. In a stringed musical instrument having a body and a bridgethereon over which the strings are disposed, 'a tailpiece comprising a sheet metal member fixedly secured to the body of the instrument, and means for adjusting said tailpiece vertically comprising an abutment member engaging the body of the instrument, and a threaded actuating member engaging said thrust member and said tailpiece member whereby rotational adjustment of said threaded member varies the position of the tailpiece relative to the body of, the instrument and the force exerted by the strings on the bridge.

4. A stringed musical instrument having arear of the body of the instrument, and means for adjusting said string anchoring portion vertically comprising a thrust member between said body and tailpiece portion engaging the body of the instrument, and a threaded actuating member threadedly engaging said thrust member and in thrust engagement with said tailpiece whereby rotational adjustment of said threaded member varies the position of the tailpiece relative to the body of the instrument and varies the force exerted by the strings on the bridge.

5. A stringed musical instrument having a body, a bridge thereon over which the strings are disposed, a tailpiece comprising a sheet metal member having a string anchoring portion extending over the instrument body and an integral downwardly offset portion fixedly securedly to the rear of the body of. the instrument, and

means for adjusting said string anchoring portion vertically comprising a thrust member between said body and tailpiece portion engaging the body of the instrument, and a threaded actuating member engaging said thrust member and said tailpiece whereby rotational adjustment of said threaded member varies the position of the tailpiece relative to the body of the instrument and varies the force exerted by the strings on the bridge.

6. In a stringed musical instrument including a body, a bridge secured thereon, a tailpiece in spaced relation to said bridge, and a plurality of strings connected to the tailpiece and extending over the bridge, said tailpiece extending over said body, and for adjusting the tailpiece vertically relative to the bridge and body, comprising thrust means disposed between the tailpiece and the body and in thrust transmitting relation to both thereof, to urge the same oppositely, and means for actuating said thrust means for raising and lowering the tailpiece relative to the body with resultant variation of the force exerted by the strings on the bridge.

'7. In a stringed musical instrument including a body, a bridge secured thereon, a tailpiece in spaced relation to said bridge, and a plurality of strings connected at one end to the tailpiece and extending over the bridge, said tailpiece extending over said body, and means for vertically adjusting the tailpiece relative to the bridge to vary the tension exerted by the strings on the bridge, comprising a thrust member disposed between the tailpiec and the body of the instrument and in thrust engagement with the body adjacent the rear edge of the latter and threaded adjusting means engaging said member and tailpiece whereby rotational adjustment of said threaded means varies the vertical position of, said tailpiecewith resultant variation of the force exertedby the strings on the bridge.

8. In a stringedmusical instrument including a body, a bridge secured thereon, and a plurality of strings extending over said bridge, a tailpiece connected to the body and disposed in spaced relation to the bridge and having a portion extending externally over the body in the direction of and connected to all of said strings, and threaded means for adjusting said tailpiece relative to the body and bridge to vary the tension exerted by the strings on the bridge, comprising thrust means interposed between said tailpiece and body and acting thereon transversely of the length of the strings, and means for actuating said thrust means to vary the vertical relation of. the tailpiece to the body.

9. In a stringed musical instrument including a body, a bridge secured thereon, and a plurality of strings extending over said bridge, a tailpiece connected to the body and disposed in spaced relation to the bridge and having a portion con nected to all of said strings, and threaded means interposed between said tailpiece and body and coacting with both thereof to separate or approach the same normal to the direction of the strings for adjusting said portion vertically relative to the body and bridge to vary the tension exerted by the strings on the bridge.

10. In a stringed musical instrument including a body, a bridge secured thereon, a tailpiece in spaced relation to said bridge, and a plurality of strings connected at one end to the tailpiece and extending over the bridge, said tailpiece extending over said body externally thereof in the direction of the strings, and threaded adjusting means coacting with said tailpiece and body and exerting thrust thereon normal to the direction of the strings for vertically adjusting the tailpiece relative to the body and bridge to simultaneously vary the tension exerted by all the strings on the bridge.

GEORGE R. MILLER. 

